As a resident of Hay-on-Wye I especially love the open-mindedness and eccentricity that pervades our community.
I will be putting this to the test with small bursts of Yarn 'Graffiti' (each one a Work Of Heart) attached to other-wise dull structures and willing places of interest around town.
The intention is to inspire a Yarn Craft Revival and put a smile on the faces of the Locals, as well as the Visitors to our lovely town.

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Sunday, 30 August 2009

I just found out that Tag # 1 has been removed today... it was Saturday Night last night and I had anticipated drunken revelers finding themselves hardly able to resist deconstructing my Tags... I wonder if any survive?

When people have asked me how I can put so much work into something and risk it being stolen or destroyed, I have responded (without experience but with full brave intention) that one must "Let Go" of one's Tags as soon as they are attached... that a photo is all I can hope to be lasting... and that every moment that they are witnessed is a bonus.

Now, I didn't expect any to last even through a night, but because they have lasted what seems like ages to me this first "loss" has slightly tarnished my shiny bubble of optimism, and the truth of this art... this project... this experiment, is now a reality! For the observer it is to provoke a thought or a question or inspiration involving Yarn Craft. For me it is a lesson in Letting Go, and I am only just beginning my education. I suppose I may (as a mother) hope that in some small way it is the seed to prepare me for when my beloved son must dive into the world, leaving just ripples behind him.

I call these Tags "Works of Heart" because I love crochetting, and I do try to practice "Conscious Crochetting" (my own term that just fell out as I wrote and I do apologise for it sounding a little 'new-agey'). It is to convey the idea that every stitch I crochet I endeavor to do with positive state of mind and a smile on my face, weaving in good intentions, positivity, the odd Spell and yes....LOVE. So whoever removes the tags will not escape a little bit of these good vibes rubbing off on them, and that makes it worth it.

Anyway, true to my relationship with the universe, whilst Tag #1 is merely a memory, it's legacy lives on... a new star is born... another Yarn Bomber has struck with a fabulous chunky bit of knitting around a lovely weathered wooden sign half way down Brecon Road...

I feel so excited, and now I too am looking at every nook and cranny as I go through town to see if anyone else has left a donation to the cause. I only wish I knew who did it and I would urge them to think about making a Label so that their Tags may be attributed to them, and their adventures in Yarn Graffiti followed.

If it is You, please email me through my profile so that we can keep in touch : )

Edited to add that I have recently found out that this Tag has been here since Hay Festival of Literature in May so I was not the first yarn-bomber in Hay and I can't believe I never saw it before!

Thursday, 27 August 2009

Well, actually I set off last night to do some Tags and got side-tracked by a game of scrabble in Kilvert's gardens with some friends. By the time I had thrashed them (blind-folded, with hands tied behind back etc) I was all geared up to splash a bit of colour round the place. What I had forgotten is that it gets dark quicker now and by the time I got my first piece attached to the hand rail on the steps opposite Chattels and adjacent to the Butter Market it was too dark for some natural light pictures and then the battery went on my camera!

SO, I set off again this morning at 8am to photograph the piece from last night before it got removed... and I am really pleased to say that so far ALL my pieces still survive.

Here is last night's Tag...

TAG #4

...and then the sun came out as the Market traders were setting up their stalls and I had to go with the flow...

This is a gold laced Oak Leaf that I have hung in a tree to the side of the Nepal Bazaar it is quite camoflaged for my work so far, the sort of Tag only a child may notice....

TAG #5

Then as I walked further into the Back Fold (again) I spotted, right next to the front door to The Nepal Bazaar, one of the many street lights that have been put into suspended animation to save money. I tried to walk on by but it screamed at me to Tag it so that it felt it had purpose being there. I obliged of course!

TAG #6

Then I got chatting to some of my friends that have stalls in the market and Jan on the Primrose Earth Awareness Trust stall has offered to let me Tag her stall which will be fun.

I walked around getting measurements for future tags, enjoying the sunshine and the growing bustle of the market, then remembered that I had snuck out before my son and hubby had woken, and had the urge to get back for a delayed morning snuggle...

... but then a lonely bench called out to me! I told it that my family needed me but it whimpered and sulked so I said I would sit a moment to keep it company. Then it spotted my sunburst that I crocheted last night and it badgered me to give it something bright to wear whilst we had such a rare sunny happening in the midst of the recent wet cloudiness, so once again, I felt it my duty to do my best : )

TAG #7

This was a very satisfying Tag as I did it quite brazenly...

the positive feedback I have had so far is making me braver!

I got home with a big smile on my face,

which doubled to see my man and my boy waiting for me eager to see my photos.

Tuesday, 25 August 2009

Woke up this morning and decided it was time..... 8am on a drizzly August morning in Hay on Wye, the sun was trying to squeeze through small moth-eaten holes of the the grey woolen blanket that was the sky, and I urged it on as I slinked up to the town centre with my bag of goodies.

On the way I passed a wonderful Work of Art that is often seen all over Hay on Wye..... my friend The Scary Guy , I told him of my mission, he looked amused and encouraged me to let him know how it goes.

I had a specially made piece for the arm of the bench in the town centre next to the cash-point. A train of Granny Squares, a traditional style to begin with to appeal to the Elders that sit there throughout the day.

TAG #1

As I walked away I turned and saw this rather Dapper Gentleman approach the cash-point whilst doing a double-take at my piece. He then sat down and lit a cigarette.

Meanwhile I had turned into the Honesty Bookshop at the foot of Hay Castle , always exposed to the elements, and relying on on the honesty and respect of it's customers.

Here I immediately spotted a wooden post holding up one of the lean-to roofs protecting the bookshelves - and I had a perfect piece for it! I had scrumbled together a bunch of trial motifs that had been in my U.F.O. bag for ages (for Yarn Craft "muggles", a U.F.O. in Yarn Craft speak is an "Un-Finished Object"). While I placed this one around the post I could see over the wall down onto the street where the bench was, and was able to watch the gentleman sitting, smoking, next to my first piece, I took a photo of him (above) and it made me smile - enormously - and I realised how exciting this whole project is.

TAG #2

The last picture is one taken from the bench I first decorated, I hadn't anticipated that my second piece could be seen from there, I was so pleased! I also got chatting to the Dapper Gentleman and asked if he sat there often, (he did), and what he thought of the new addition.... he thought at first that one of the buskers that frequent that spot had left something, then spotted the tag hanging off and that it was fixed...... I explained that it was to help put the spotlight on Yarn Craft and he said that he thought I should contact the local paper and get some publicity.... I explained that for now it is all about the pieces and their message, not about me, so I was going to wait and see if they attract any interest to start off. Overall he liked it and insisted that the other arm of the bench needed the same attention : )

I headed towards home as the drizzle was increasing and as I went to walk past the Back Fold I found myself meandering along it's snaky path to one of my favorite shops in Hay, Wool and Willow. There I decided to put a small piece on one the drainpipes next to the side window of the shop. This piece was a colour sample for a commission by a friend to make a pair of crochet trousers. I tied it onto the drainpipe and hoped that it would be appreciated (if noticed at all?).

TAG #3

I carried on home with a huge grin on my face. Whilst I wonder how long my "Works of Heart" will last at the hands of the local lads, I do look forward to the next expedition!

Sunday, 23 August 2009

I have made a logo to attach to my pieces so that in time when I hopefully recruit contributions from other "yarn rebels" we will know each other's work.

I am rather pleased with it as it suggests an "Anarchy A" made with a ball of yarn and two kneedles (my own term for knitting needles) and a crochet hook (which I 'spose could be called a crook) with the end of the yarn drawn as the lit end of a bomb fuse (to refer to the Yarn-Bombing of course).

I hope everyone will see the humor in it.

I have now adapted my tag to include my Craftitti Name and some info on the back,